A pretty solid source with a decent track record has told me that Canon is aiming to release a full-frame RF mount camera for under $800 USD in 2022. The Canon EOS RP launched at $1299 USD, so this would be quite the accomplishment if it comes to fruition. Even launching a new full-frame camera at $999 would be quite welcomed. That said, if Canon could get the camera and a kit lens for under $1000USD, they'd have themselves a winner.
There are obviously no specifications for a camera that is likely at least a year away, but I do believe there is something to this just by what I have been shown.
Let's see what comes of this information.
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On the other hand, a cynic could say that going into the crop market could be useful if you wanted to drive a stake through the heart of Fuji once and for all. But you'd have to offer a better value proposition to really kill them; and that would imply high quality glass, rather than kit quality glass.
This is a long way of saying that Neuro is likely right.
Canon address the size with the M system, which even though it doesn't have some specific lenses people want it does have the lenses most people need and actually buy.
The cost is dealt with two fold, the M series for people that want smaller and cheaper, and if this new body comes out then with that. The new body would suit almost everybody that is looking for a 'real camera' but was pushed into the Rebel market because of price.
The focal length 'limitation' is somewhat addressed by the RF 600 and RF 800 f11's. And anybody that has seen AlanF's pixel level comparisons of those lenses and much more expensive lenses along with TC convertor use would be foolish to dismiss the f11 aspect because the high iso capabilities of the R5 and R6 are pretty outstanding.
Taken as a whole, and given the 7D market was never regularly replaced which implies the sales were not particularly high, I don't really see the advantage for Canon, or users, who think about an RF crop camera.
Not sure about a benefit, but at least to me a crop body with a good, 90D/7D2/M62 level feature set is much more attractive a value proposition than a FF one that otherwise piles compromises on top of compromises à la the RP.
R? entry level 800 $
RP entry level 1.000 $ (eventual successor at 1.200 $)
R6 semi-pro 2.500 $
I´d actually see at least one opening for an R successor, maybe even too if they'd find a way to differentiate the cameras enough. Kind a like Sonys lineup in this point.
This isn't the age of your father's EF 28-85 lens - lenses good enough for FF sensors these days are HARD to do properly.
I look forward to Canon proving me wrong on this though.
*as the saying goes, choose any two.
It would make more sense to me to make a new model in the RP body for $1K and drop the price of the RP.
I guess they could make an entry-level camera in the R body.
The price of the R will not drop to $799 for a while.
And a huge hole too. :) Sorry, couldn't help myself.
Of course they could fill it by just keeping the R in the lineup, as it's still a great camera. I do agree that eventually they may slot something between the entry level body/bodies and the R6, but I don't see them in any hurry as the current R fills the need pretty well. The problem, as I see it, is that the R is equal to or better than the R6 in some respects (most notably the 30mp sensor) and the features that would need to be shed for a replacement to fit in under the R6 are already not on the R (IBIS and dual card slot) so I'm not sure what a new model would have/not have that isn't already met by the R.